This year, International Women’s Day comes on the heels of unprecedented global movement for women’s rights, equality and justice. Sexual harassment, violence and discrimination against women has captured headlines and public discourse, propelled by a rising determination for change. The theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March, is “Time Is Now: Rural And Urban Activists Transforming Women’s Lives”.

Women’s Rights Activists around the world are mobilizing for a future that is more equal – this has taken the form of global marches and campaigns, including ‘Me Too’ in the USA; ‘Yo Tambien’ in Mexico, Spain, South America and beyond; ‘Quella Volta Che’ in Italy, ‘Balance Ton Porc’ in France, ‘Ana Kaman’ in the Arab States; ‘Ni Una Menos’ in Argentina; and many others, on issues ranging from equal pay to women’s political representation. International Women’s Day 2018 is an opportunity to transform this momentum into action, to empower women in all settings, rural and urban, and celebrate the activists who are working relentlessly to claim women’s rights and realize their full potential.

International Women’s Day will also draw attention to the rights and activism of rural women, who make up over a quarter of the world population and majority of the 43 per cent of women in the global agricultural labour force.

On 8 March, join activists around the world and UN Women to seize the moment, celebrate, take action and transform women’s lives everywhere. The time is NOW.

(Courtesy UNWomen.org)